Plasmodium garnhami sp. nov. from the Egyptian hoopoe (Upupa epops major Brehm)

Abstract

Plasmodium garnhami sp. n. is described from Upupa epops major Brehm (Aves, Upupidae), the Egyptian hoopoe, a resident of the cultivated Nile delta and Nile valley of Egypt. Scanty infections were found in 29 of 174 adult, but in none of 198 immature, hoopoes examined. Inoculation of infected adult blood into 11 immature birds resulted in blood infections 5 days later, and death owing to heavy parasitaemia 9–10 days after inoculation. Exo-erythrocytic stages occurred in the spleen and liver of each immature bird thus inoculated.